The hygiene and personal care industry is entering a period of steady change as manufacturers respond to new consumer needs, sustainability targets and regulatory requirements.
At OUTLOOK 2026, held in Cascais, Portugal from September 22 to 24, industry professionals from across the nonwovens, hygiene and wipes supply chain gathered to discuss the factors shaping the market. The event covered baby diapers, menstrual care products, adult incontinence products and wet wipes, with particular attention given to product safety, raw materials and changing global demand.
One of the clearest trends is the growing importance of adult incontinence care. Population aging in many markets is creating more demand for products that combine high absorbency, comfort and discreet use. This is encouraging manufacturers to improve product structure while also developing more flexible product ranges for different care environments.
Sustainability is another major topic. Producers are under increasing pressure to reduce unnecessary plastic use, improve material efficiency and provide clearer information about product composition. For wipes and disposable hygiene products, this means more attention is being paid to nonwoven materials, fiber choices and responsible product design.
At the same time, product safety and regulatory compliance are becoming more important across the supply chain. Buyers are increasingly looking beyond basic specifications and considering material traceability, testing standards and consistency between production batches.
These changes show that competition in the hygiene industry is no longer based only on price or production capacity. Material selection, quality control, product performance and the ability to adapt products to different market requirements are becoming equally important.
For hygiene product manufacturers and buyers, the direction is clear: products must continue to deliver reliable performance while meeting higher expectations for safety, transparency and sustainability.
The hygiene and personal care industry is entering a period of steady change as manufacturers respond to new consumer needs, sustainability targets and regulatory requirements.
At OUTLOOK 2026, held in Cascais, Portugal from September 22 to 24, industry professionals from across the nonwovens, hygiene and wipes supply chain gathered to discuss the factors shaping the market. The event covered baby diapers, menstrual care products, adult incontinence products and wet wipes, with particular attention given to product safety, raw materials and changing global demand.
One of the clearest trends is the growing importance of adult incontinence care. Population aging in many markets is creating more demand for products that combine high absorbency, comfort and discreet use. This is encouraging manufacturers to improve product structure while also developing more flexible product ranges for different care environments.
Sustainability is another major topic. Producers are under increasing pressure to reduce unnecessary plastic use, improve material efficiency and provide clearer information about product composition. For wipes and disposable hygiene products, this means more attention is being paid to nonwoven materials, fiber choices and responsible product design.
At the same time, product safety and regulatory compliance are becoming more important across the supply chain. Buyers are increasingly looking beyond basic specifications and considering material traceability, testing standards and consistency between production batches.
These changes show that competition in the hygiene industry is no longer based only on price or production capacity. Material selection, quality control, product performance and the ability to adapt products to different market requirements are becoming equally important.
For hygiene product manufacturers and buyers, the direction is clear: products must continue to deliver reliable performance while meeting higher expectations for safety, transparency and sustainability.